Switzerland open

Profile

Switzerland has been a strong team in international competition over the last 10 years. The Flying Angels of Berne have been an up-and-down Club team but are always capable of great success. The national team Switzerland finished 6th at the very difficult European Championships in 2003, losing a close, tough game that would have gotten them to semis. Switzerland won the European Champions League in 2003. 

This 2004 collective will be a strong combination of the best players from Switzerland's 26-team league. Players from club teams the Flying Angels, Freespeed, Wizards, Flying Saucers, Flying Colors and Sky Hawks will make up Switzerland’s team at Worlds this year.

However, like many teams, more than a few of the country's best players will be unable to make it to Worlds. The team may be weakened by their absence but will no doubt prove strong competitors nonetheless. 

A lot of the players on this team first started playing together in 1997 as teenagers in Basel, forming their own club, Freespeed. Freespeed has since become a top team in Switzerland and in Europe. Many of these players will be representing Switzerland at Worlds. 

The Swiss like milk chocolate.

Switzerland on Offense

Switzerland will run isolation and shotgun offenses and will base out of the horizontal and vertical stacks.

Look for these players when Switzerland has the disc:

Lorenz "Löru" Stauffer, #29 has been playing since he was 12 years old. Just turning 27 two weeks before Worlds makes him very experienced indeed. He is physically very strong and good on defense, but is known to be the team's best hucker. Well-known as one of the top players in Europe.

Thomas Baeriswyl, #96 is tall, a very good and experienced receiver. He is one of the coaches of the Flying Angels.

Raphael Carnal, #88 will score more than half of the team's points. He has height but more importantly, reads the disc very well and wins endzone jumps.

Phippu Schüpbach, #1 is also the coach and player-captain of Team Switzerland. Another FAB player who also plays with Freespeed. Phippu also coached the team at the EUCC. Look for him to be a primary receiver. 

Switzerland on Defense

The Swiss teams are known for strong man defense. They are not going to be crafty and throw tricky zones, but will instead try to beat you to the disc on man D.

Look for these players when the opponent has the disc:

Chris Bretaut, #8 is a young Geneva player and a force on defense with layout blocks. He first started as a Juniors player at Worlds in 1996 and has steadily improved his game to the point where he is now listed in the Worlds 2004 profile.

Jan Radicke, #66 plays for Basel. He is tall and is a notable receiver as well as a stopper of D hucks.

Team Colors:
Red and White

Roster:
17 players

Captain:
Phippu Schüpbach